THE WORLD'S GREATEST OVERLAND EXPLORER
Photograph by Maynard Owen Williams
IT MIGHT BE TEXAS, BUT IT IS AZERBAIJAN
Marco made his first great trade discovery when he noted that in Georgia were certain
"fountains" from which sprang oil "that is good to burn."
That fact seemed to him a freak
of nature; the use he recommended for the oil was to "anoint camels that have the mange" (see
text, page 518). This oil fire in the region of Baku is crumbling the steel walls of the tank.
often the quarry is struck within his view;
so that he has the most exquisite sport and
diversion there, as he sits in his chamber
or lies in his bed."
This recumbent mode of following the
chase, a truly oriental touch, is explained
by Marco on the ground that His Majesty
suffered from the gout.
One more story he may have told that
night. He did relate it later in Venice,
and it helped discredit his entire narrative.
This was the vivid and accurate descrip
tion of the Great Khan's palace.
THE PALACE WITHIN A MAZE OF WALLS
The Winter Palace at Peking, set in a
maze of walls, Marco explained, was a
literal Chinese puzzle. The outer rampart
was eight miles on each side. Between
this wall and a ditch and an inner wall
troops were stationed. Inside the second
wall were eight spacious buildings, where
military stores were kept; one for bridles,
saddles, stirrups, and other cavalry equip
ment; another for bows, strings, quivers,
saddles, and stirrups for the archery, and
so on.
Within this second wall was a third
barrier, 25 feet high and very thick, con
taining eight other buildings, all devoted
to the Emperor's wardrobe; also, behind
the innermost walls, was the palace, "the
most extensive that had ever yet been
known."
It rested upon an immense plat
form of marble, the outer edge of this
embankment affording a promenade, pro
tected by a marble balustrade.
The palace halls were plated with gold
and carved with figures of dragons, beasts,
birds, warriors, and "idols," as Marco
termed the figures of Buddha, while on
the lofty ceiling were paintings and designs
in gold and silver. The approach was by
marble staircases on each side.
In the grand hall of this palace the
Khan could entertain 6,000 people at din
ner. Surrounding it was a multitude of
smaller halls and chambers, and to one
side were the apartments where the mon
arch had his treasures of "gold and silver
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